DIY Water Softener Solution

8 years ago

Hi Everyone,
I think i need to install a water Softener solution in my home.

For years we have noticed shower heads will get blocked, Water stains etc and really just ignored it. Last year I had a pipe feeding my kitchen sink just snap off in my hands. It was corroded. At that point, I had a local Water Softener company come in and provided the below information. I did not move forward. Last week I had another spigot on my well tank snap off in my hands again. I think maybe I need to address the issue at this point.
I have well water. submersible pump, pressure tank, sediment filter, and 80 gallon electric water heater. Most of my house is plumbed with PEX, altho I have some copper, and PEX-AL-PEX from my pump to well tank. 5 in the house.

Onsite test results from local company:

Water Hardness - 11 GPG - Advised that this is extremely hard
PH - 6.3. - Advised that this is acidic
TDS - 340 PPM

I will get an independant test done in the next week or so to validate these results.

They proposed the following (09/2017):
Water Softener -:
Option 1 -:Kinetico Powerline 1054 Water Softening System - $2,100, including installation. Option 2 -:Kinetico Premier S-150 Water Softener - $3,100., including installation.
PH -:Kinetico Powerline 1354 Acid Neutralizer, which uses Calcite as its media - $1,900.
Drinking Water-:Kinetico K5 Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Purification System - $1,895.

This is a lot of money to have to shell out. Even if I went with the lower priced softener, still looking at guts of 6K. I have a feeling that the above quote is exorbitant.

My question is can I design, purchase and install a comparable system myself. I am comfortable with plumbing, construction etc and have done a lot of it - just not familiar with water softeners and looking to learn. I don't mind putting in a good high quality system, I would like go with a system that the customer service will work with a consumer and one that has any maintenance/replacement parts generally available to consumers.

The other requirement, is I am concerned about the added Sodium. We have low salt requirements in the home. I have read that potassium chloride (?) is an option instead of salt?

Can anyone weigh in on the above proposal, and also what a DIY install would look like. Glad to provide any further information.

Thanks. Vincent

Featured Answer

Jake The Wonderdog

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

You were quoted one of the most expensive water softeners. If value is important to you, then Kinetico isn't the way to go.

11 grains is considered very hard, but it's not exceptional (my city water is 26 gpg, for example).

You can buy very good Fleck based water softeners from Amazon (which is what I did) for under $700. Acid neutralizers aren't as commonly available. Your water sounds like it might be a little more complex - so it's probably worth it to have a local water treatment company work with you.

Other things you want to look at is:

-the amount of iron

-things like nitrates that a carbon filter won't remove (common in agricultural areas)

You should know that softening adds very little sodium to the water. The hardness ions are replaced with sodium ions and so the amount of sodium depends on the hardness of the water. Softening water adds 1.89 mg of salt per grain of hardness per 8 oz glass of water - so in your case ~20.8 mg. By comparison an 8 oz glass of low fat milk has 120 mg.

It's common to run a separate supply to your kitchen for drinking water that is not softened and is carbon filtered to improve taste and remove some of the VOC's and such. A simple carbon filter is the answer as long as you don't have nitrates, lead and other contaminates that a carbon filter won't remove. If you do, then you need to look at R/O for the drinking water.

Again, well water can be more tricky than municipal water because there are more things that you may have to treat. Get a separate water analysis - but you probably want to work with a local water treatment company - one who isn't selling Kinetico.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Solar Texas
8 years ago
Contact your local plumber. There are less expensive options and your local plumber will be familiar with your water supply and the water softeners to treat it.
mcmahonvincent
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you. I am also going to price out that route. I am just blown away at the cost of this solution from these water specialists. thanks
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mcmahonvincent
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks Jake,

I will work on an analysis ASAP. I am looking to get a good solution in place and if I can save money in the installation, then thats where I want to be. Are you leaning towards saying that this is too much for a DIY?, or will a local water treatment company work with a DIY person?

regarding the sodium, it doesn't sound like its a big issue

Regarding the Drinking water, I will post the results once I get a more detailed analysis

Thanks again
Jake The Wonderdog
8 years ago
So the right place to start is always the water analysis. I don't have experiencewith this company, but it all looks good.

Water softener and carbon filter for drinking water is easy enough. If you have iron, need to correct PH or have contaminates that aren't addressed by carbon you may need help.

Let us see the report when you get it back.
mcmahonvincent thanked Jake The Wonderdog
mcmahonvincent
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Jake, The county has a Lab that I am going to get a kit from tomorrow. I looked at that website and the costs are in line with the Co. Lab, so I will just stop by there.

Hopefully will have report in a week or so.